Activision Blizzard sued over claims sexual harassment contributed to employee’s death

The mother and father of an Activision Blizzard worker who died by suicide throughout an organization retreat in 2017 are suing the corporate for wrongful demise, in line with a report by The Washington Put up. Paul and Janet Moynihan, the mother and father of Kerri Moynihan, a 32-year-old finance supervisor at Activision Blizzard, allege sexual harassment was a “important issue” contributing to her demise. Investigators dominated Moynihan’s demise a suicide after she was discovered lifeless in a resort room at Disney’s Grand Californian Lodge & Spa in April 2017.

As famous by The Put up, Moynihan was anonymously referenced within the lawsuit filed by California’s Division of Truthful Employment and Housing (DFEH) final July, which sued Activision Blizzard for allegedly fostering a poisonous tradition of “fixed sexual harassment.” The DFEH’s grievance claims her male co-workers handed round a photograph of her vagina at a vacation get together earlier than her demise. When the go well with was filed, Activision Blizzard stated the DFEH’s allegations have been “distorted, and in lots of circumstances false.”

A replica of the brand new lawsuit considered by The Put up claims Activision Blizzard “fostered and permitted a piece setting by which sexual harassment was pervasive” and that it failed “to stop such harassment.” It additionally accuses Moynihan’s boss, Greg Restituito, of hiding his sexual relationship with Moynihan to investigators. Restituito labored as Activision Blizzard’s senior finance director till Might 2017, one month after Moynihan died by suicide.

In accordance with the go well with, Activision Blizzard allegedly refused to offer police entry to each Moynihan and Restituito’s company-issued telephones and laptops through the investigation of Moynihan’s demise.

Activision Blizzard has been embroiled in controversy since final 12 months’s lawsuit. Months after workers staged a walkout to protest office discrimination, The Wall Avenue Journal dropped a bombshell report alleging Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick has been conscious of rampant sexual misconduct on the firm — Kotick nonetheless stays the CEO after workers and shareholders referred to as for his resignation. In January, Microsoft introduced its forthcoming acquisition of Activision Blizzard, with Kotick remaining as the corporate’s CEO till the deal closes someday in 2023.

The Verge reached out to Activision Blizzard with a request for remark however didn’t instantly hear again.

Disclosure: Casey Wasserman is on the board of administrators for Activision Blizzard in addition to the board of administrators of Vox Media, The Verge’s mother or father firm.